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Wether you are an alumn, a student, a player or staff member these bowl games are one more chance for friends and family to get together and make lasting memories you'll cherish forever. Friday night with many friends new and old in front of Fritzel's bar where Stebo ate the crow I prepared for him back in 2001. Some I haven't seen since our last trip down. So good to see y'all again for another great memory. Hope everyone got home safe and sound. Rick

The Game You can’t turn the ball over that many times and win. The refs were horrible. I lost my voice yelling at those non-pass interference calls. The team was competitive against a much physically larger team. Game Day Experience The meet up at Borgne was fun. We need to do more stuff like this. I loved that the restaurant was packed with green. We need to be able to do something like that at every away game. I really like that they had Bowl game beads. One thing I would suggest for anyone who’s connected with the alumni association, add a 50/50 raffle. You’ve got a packed room that wants to support the program. Capitalize on this type of momentum. (At the Saints game the next day they grossed over 200k for a raffle). Bowl Atmosphere It was cool seeing people out in green all weekend. We need a cooler greeting than just saying “caw” at each other. I wish more fans and specifically more students would have attended. Teams that travel well, get bigger, better bowl games. Bowl City I wish the weather was better. It was awesome on Sunday, it was just kind of cold on Friday & Saturday. The Bourbon Street construction was a bummer. The city and locals were more friendly and aware of the Bowl than those early 2000’s games. Overall Wife and I had fun. Got to go to one of the best cities in the world and see my team play in an NFL stadium. For future bowls (and I really believe this team will be going to future bowls) we should try to alternate between a local bowl and travel bowl every other year, with New Orleans as a destination every other away Bowl. Go Mean Green!

Offense: QB: Fine, Shanbour, Pearson (RS comes off). We're doing just FINE here. RB: Smith, Johnson, Torrey (JUCO), & Siggers? (RS comes off). Nic Smith should continue the run of fantastic RBs we've had. WR: Turner Smiley is literally the only guy we're losing. And, although he contributed quite a bit this season, we should see improvement at WR since all of these guys will now be in year 2/3 of the system. TE: Smith/Chumley return, and will be another year deeper in the system. OL: We'll have to replace the right side of the line - Mayfield at RT & Henson at RG. We also lose a little depth with Gunter. I'd expect Manase Mose to step right in at Henson's spot, unless Carroll, the kid from Waco, is the real deal as a true Freshman. I think the RT spot is wide open. Murray needs to be "pushed" during Spring/Fall practice for his spot, even though he's a Senior. I think Woodworth's spot is solid. We'll see if Barr can work his way back to starting C in the Spring/Fall. Otherwise, I would expect to see the Mose brothers starting side by side next year. Defense: DL: We're losing a LOT here. Captain Andy Flusche & Tillman Johnson were contributing at a high level here. Luckily, we'll have English ready to go (hopefully with an additional year of eligibility), so we can slide Young over to play Flusche's spot, with Hamilton on the other side. VERY THIN here though unless Krasniqi & Novil continue to improve. LB: The thinnest of our position group in 2017 will be hit hard by losing Wheeler & McDonald. Ejiya returns & Garner returns. Gotta hope RS Cody Fulp is ready to step up & that we get some D1-ready help out of the JUCO ranks. JoJo will be forced to fill Wheeler's shoes... a tall order. DB: Losing McClain & Jenkins, along with solid depth in Baulkman. Time for Sanders to step up to replace McClain, & Muhammad will need to be ready to lead. Need Brooks to figure out how to play to his ability while staying disciplined in his assignments. Glad Hall is returning & I hope Cam Johnson is ready to contribute as well (he didn't take a redshirt as he was a ST's contributor). Maybe not as detailed as you'd like, but a pretty high-level overview... EDIT: How could I forget Trevor Moore? Good luck trying to replace that guy. We've been spoiled at the Kicking spot over the past 4 years.

Agreed. People act like we can pick bowl, opponent, date, etc. And people act like they are experts and that UNT leadership failed when NO ONE on this board has clue how the process works. It's flat out stupidity on display. Good thing it isn't recruiting season when parents and recruits might be looking at a forum to learn more about the school. 1)Armed Forces wasn't an option because no one (schools, conference or bowl) wanted a 4th match-up in two years. 2)Frisco wasn't a good selection because it's a new bowl with a name no one nationally recognizes or cares about played in a 20,000 seat soccer stadium. Plus neither SMU or UNT would probably be real excited about a rematch and losing to those a-holes a 3rd time in two years would be unbearable and might hurt recruiting. 3) Bahama's Bowl - You know who played in this ridiculous bowl the last 4 years? WKU, MTSU, ODU, and UAB. 3 of those 4 have much better recent history and reason to have more 'clout' than UNT. Yet UNT has avoided that bowl this year and last year which is a credit to UNT. 4) Boca Bowl vs Akron and 5) Bad Boys Motor Bowl vs. Temple - I'm going to assume no one wanted these bowls but I'm sure some jackass will advocate for them just so they can be critical of their own school. I do think we would have beat Temple but probably in front of 250 people. 6) Cure Bowl in Orlando - Actually a pretty good destination due to Disney World and Universal but Georgia State is probably the worst name draw opponent there is. Orlando also is a pretty far destination. 7) Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, AL vs Ark State - Same situation as NOLA bowl but in a MUCH worse destination vs the Sunbelt non champion. 8) New Mexico Bowl vs Colorado State - Granted CSU is a slightly better name opponent (although Troy is and has been a better football team). But how can anyone really say we'd have been better off to play CSU in freiking Albuquerque? I think we'd have had 1/2 of what we had in NOLA. I couldn't make to NOLA but if I didn't have a work Christmas party I would have tried. I have no interest in Albuquerque. Does anyone? Again, outside of player families and the band, we may have taken 250 people. 9) Independence vs Florida State - This is the one bowl that I understand people wishing we were in. But acting like it's a colossal fail we weren't in it? Really? Of our primary bowl tie ins, WE GOT THE BEST BOWL! So you want our admin to risk having to play Georgia State in Orlando so they can hold out hope to play in the Independence Bowl if it doesn't fill by a Power 5? Really? Whether you like it or not, the ACC commissioner made the decision on who his team would play. That's how things work in modern day FBS football. Don't believe it? Ask UCF how fair this system is. I've already posted on this once before, but you guys are ridiculously foolish if you think UNT ever got to soley determine their destiny. First, you have a preference of the bowls that want you. But the bowl DOESN'T have to take you. It's up to them. Second, the Power 5 commissioners have the Power over any bowl with P5 tie ins (Independence). So they would determine who they will send and what team they will play. Lastly, for those of you mad at attendance and claiming poor attendance is the fault of UNT officials. This is the dumbest comment of all. You brag about our attendance at a Bowl Game 40 minutes from campus? You think that is something to brag about? There are about 5 schools that get an opportunity to play in their back yard. If we can't get 4-5k in a fun destination city 7.5 hours from Dallas, then we as a fan base need to be better. I didn't think the crowd was at catastrophic as others on this board do. Troy is about 5 hours from NOLA, has won 21 games the past two season and I estimate they had about 40% more people than we did. But no, the crowd wasn't great. And somehow that is the fault of our administration? But the criticism 'a few' of you guys continue to hurl at UNT coaches and administrators is mired in ignorance of the process, unfounded belief in our place in bowl pecking orders, and exhausting for those not living in fantasy land.

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/468/p3 Like I said in another post, it's a wonder Chief was able to walk away from yesterday's game at all. An amazing testament to just how tough of a player he is. Defensively.....we are the second lowest ranked team with 9 or more wins...(Memphis is ranked lower). Here is where our defense ranks. Pass Defense........#74 Run Defense..........#103 Scoring Defense....#110 Total Defense.........#95 This must change in order to win a championship. Rick

He played a hell of a game. I noticed something about him. He was hitting the hell out of Troy, but every time he did, he picked his fallen opponent up after the play. Class act. Proud to have him in green.

Pretty spot on. I had a good time while I was there. The 1st half was entertaining. Sunday morning I was reminded I wasn’t in college anymore. Pedialyte for the win!

This board is so "glass is half-empty" sometimes that I don't know whether to laugh or cry. 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl vs UNLV -- "why'd we get stuck playing UNLV?" "That's not fair. Why do we need to play a school like that? We're so much better than them". 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl vs. Army -- "Why do we have to play them twice in the same season?". "That's not fair. We get no respect ". 2017 New Orleans Bowl -- "We gotta play a team from the Sun Belt!?" "That's not fair. Why would we even associate with a school like that?" Any SMU game: "SMU fans are such stuck-up bastards. They don't wanna associate with a school like us". Anyone notice the hypocrisy? Personally, I had a good time in New Orleans (me and the 10 others in our group). We played a feam that will likely be ranked in the AP Top 25 when all is said & done and I thought we wanted a matchup against a good team. Frankly -- and the national writers confirmed this in a previous thread -- they had us as the highest ranked CUSA bowl game. Great season, great time in NOLA, looking forward to 2018.

If the players can't execute the scheme, then change the friggin scheme to fit your players strengths. It's like shoving a square peg into a round hole. If you can't recruit players to fit your scheme, you change your scheme. Next year will be almost exclusively Littrell's/Reffett's guys. If he can't get it done after three years, he needs to go.

I see recruiting as going in the right direction. I think we need to get rid a Scott Conley. I am sure he is a nice guy, but damn the guy graduated college in the 70s. Nothing wrong with when you graduated, but that tells me at his age he probably has very little understanding of kids today to be in charge of High School relations. Hell I am almost 20 years younger than him and I don't have much understanding of kids in high school today.

Want the easy answer?? Take the helmet off. IMO no longer a weapon.

I have a feeling some of these people calling the New Orleans bowl sheety have never been to a New Orleans bowl. I mean it’s a chance to beat a 10 win team in a city full of culture food and music. How many times have we had a shot at a 10 win team? You have to take the shot to get the glory. Our holster was only half full and kudos to Troy who deserved that win and ranking to come. They were the better team having the better year. We will be that team one day. GMG

I follow Dodge here in Austin. He’s a stand up guy. I’m the rare breed that thinks if Dodge had been managed properly, he could have been successful at NT. Nonetheless, I paid particular interest to that semi (My wife went to Westlake) and the other semi (I went to Longview). Alas, both schools lost.

I gotta say a few things.. 1- Fans should be Fans, but fans/students also pay for the football team budget not some mega TV deal so we should be able to “say” what we want.. 2- If this is on the players why is Reff a) keeping them out there if they keep screwing up instead of replacing them, b) Why are they not learning from these repeated mistakes they have made ALL SEASON since as eye-placement, c) it has been said on BTG that the younger players reported to the “leaders/Seniors” and they dealt with it instead of the coaches and if that is the case they did not allow Ref to fix this after the REPEATED failures and blowouts.. They have had 2 season in this scheme, 2 bowl seasons as well to improve, on top of the spring and summer.. This defense regressed this year and did not improve.. if it’s on the players why did Reff stick with the same guys, and if It was about the #s, then why did Ref not adjust the defensive game plan??? I’m sorry but 6 non-show defensive performances in 14 games does not and should not allow the man to keep his job..

I believe they can still call targeting for a shoulder to the head/neck region with an upward trajectory. All of which that play had. Twice we got screwed on Targeting calls this season.

This time of year during the Benford era was spent looking forward to signing day, spring practice, spring game and then the beginning of fall practice. The men's and women's basketball teams are providing happiness in Mean Green Land once again. Excited to see what this season holds. So thankful for where our basketball programs are and the direction they are headed. * See my troll is still a trollin'. That, or someone misses Benford and Peterson. :)

This is a team that two years ago went 1-15. They're still undersized and slower than most FBS programs. Yet we won nine games with delicious last second wins against UAB, UTSA (who didn't go bowling because F those guys), and Army. We got rid of the thugs. No arrests this year. We played clean. We have scholar athletes, and isn't that what this is really about? STUDENT/athlete? We have that in spades. Seth Littrell has brought national attention to our program. It hurts that we lost today, but I saw us run the table at home against some great competition with classy STUDENT/athletes in Apogee. Thank you Mean Green players and coaching staff. I'm proud of all of you to a man. I'm proud to share my alma mater with each and every one of you.

I don't know why he continues to be referred to as the "Teflon Todd." His repution here certainly has stuck to him a long time.

It was irresponsible and dangerous on the part of this coaching staff to allow Mason Fine to play in the game for as long as he did. That is all ....

7pm tip vs. University of Illinois Chicago.

Mike Lawrence: led team in receiving with 62 receptions for 819 yards and 4 TD's. Looking forward to the next 2 years from Mike Law!

Sid Moore: Kicked off the team. I picked a good one this year.

Yessir I did. Commerce was what, 1-11 before they got there? Either father or son would have been a great hire instead of Dodge. Those guys know their business. Rick

No you wouldn't. If you were the father of a starting D1 QB you would be pissed because they pulled him. Your only chance of winning, however slim, is to have your best players on the field.

Ideal replacement for Littrell if he leaves IMO. Similar offense, and clearly been a winner for a while.

This is New Orleans, Louisiana you're talking about... Somebody's cousin got the contract for that job, and it'll be over-budget, over-timeline, and done under-specifications. Oh no, I've said too much...

Thank you Seniors for all your hard work in the classroom, during grueling practices and on the field during the games. I admire and respect you for your commitment and dedication. For never giving up and seeing it to the finish. Thank you for representing The University of North Texas with class and dignity. It is always difficult as an Alumnus and fan to say goodbye and it is my sincere hope that all of you will come back as fans. Join us. We need all of you. The Mean Green Nation needs you!

Like father like son. They are both idiots. Especially Lavar Ball. He is using his kids for his own gain. I understand a father wanting what's best for his kids, but Lavar Ball is a idiot father who only cares about himself.

The national spotlight I believe was the drug testing situation. The racial accusation was local and just that, an accusation in which his players defended him on and the NAACP found no merit in.. Rick

This I agree with your statement, however, I think us die hards and donors, should be viewed as a part of the Mean Green family. I don't like there being an us vs them argument when we are the ones who travel, and spend our hard earned money giving these athletes a chance to play.

If you attended the N.O. Bowl game you would have seen the VAST difference between a band that is there to promote school pride and spirit..(Troy).....and one that treats their halftime show as a stage event..(North Texas). The stage performance is wonderfully performed by the best musicians around and would be great.....ON A STAGE. We already have that over at the Dillo dome. They are called the symphony and concert bands. What we're lacking is a band geared towards promoting pride and school spirit called a FOOTBALL MARCHING BAND. Rick

Then bottom line is, we need better players to execute the schemes. Not a reflection on the effort or desire of our players. God bless em. We just need better players and more of them.

I agree. They should have pulled him the moment they realized his O-line and defense couldn't keep him in this game. So, right around Sep 1 would have been appropriate

why the f×&* would we care? quit living in the past man

I think it’s more of a talent issue then a coordinator issue. We just don’t have the athletes to put pressure in the backfield without blitzing.

The new tradition I want to see is winning football seasons with average attendance at 80% or higher of capacity.

I know that a lot of people do this anyway, but one day I would like to see "Glory to the Green and White" sung A Capella by the home crowd. The band could do it's usual intro/lead-in, and then the crowd would take over from there.

Should have asked one of your brothers about trying to carry that knife into the Superdome. 😳😳 Wiuld have saved you the walk back to the hotel.

Navy. I know the schematics of their offense come into play, but I am just answering your question. As far as the bolded, I don't see anything much different than other recent football staffs we've had. I speculate that they are reaching for anything and everything right now to get butts in seats. That is, until they can start hanging their hats on multiple 8-10 win seasons. If we ever get to that day and we have a contingent of fans splitting hairs about lack of conference championships and expectations, I guess that'd be a good problem to have.

So here is my opinion (the view from someone who is a college football fan AND has authored more than a dozen scientific publications using brain imaging and cognition): Players know the risks when they start the game and are in tiptop condition. Concussions are part of that risk. A single concussion is not great, but likely no disaster. Many things in life are risky, but that is not a reason for society to stop completely giving people freedom to do them unless they are mentally not in condition to judge. However the data educated theory out there right now is that while the first hits are bad, the biggest problem is repeated hits and probably mostly so taking hits when the head is already undergoing remission from a previous (mini) concussion. So having a player play is always a risk, but having him out there within 30 minutes after he just took a vicious hit to the head is an enhanced risk that the respective player is often not in condition to correctly judge by himself. If it is a mini concussion the remission process is likely over by next week, but unlikely to be so during the game. Playing such a player when your team is down more than two scores with 4 minutes left renders that enhanced risk even less necessary. Now if you saw that hit Fine took, that is a vicious hit to the head. SL playing Fine at the end was therefore an unnecessary enhanced risk, i.e stupid and pigheaded and borderline irresponsible.

At the start of the 4th quarter the score was 43-23. With 4:07 left in the game, the score was 50-23. It was never a two-score game. Also, Fine was not the best quarterback on the team at that point. As mentioned before, the guy could barely get back off the ground. And finally, "it is football and some games just go that way" is exactly the attitude that needs to change in this country so that football players don't turn into vegetables when they reach 50 years old. I'm not saying that is going to happen to Fine, but with the overall damage he has taken, not only this year but last year as well, he has a much higher risk.

We were 1-11 two years ago. DMac had one winning season. Todd Dodge is a turd and so was Rick Villarreal. RV didn't even hire SL, they had some 3rd party coach evaluation service do his dadgum job. We have been mismanaged for decades. How dare you blame players for not wanting to take the risk on our school. I love this program but it is a damn hard sale, especially when you have students questioning whether they should shell out a tiny bit more to help fund the athletic department, enough so they postpone the dadgum results. DON'T TELL ME THIS ISN'T A HARD SALE.

John Little is an original Green Guy. I think he and Sean Bass were the first. Zach Babb is who was the caller last night for the men's game. He is a KNTU student worker and calls HS games.

Good stuff.

Players are trained to say just that and think just that. Not surprising at all.

Gagree. We need to set our sights on the MWC.

If it's the play that was ruled a targeting then overturned, the Troy player did lead with his shoulder. But if the target is the head, I think it could still be targeting. I don't know, they keep trying to make the game safer but they don't know how to do that. And plenty of bad calls. Calling us for PI when we did the same thing that Troy didn't get flagged for. And the Troy defender planting the crown of his helmet under Mason's chin, almost knocking his helmet off after he clearly released the ball should have been an ejection. The talking heads of NCAA and the NFL keep saying they want to clean up the game, but they have no clue how.

I love listening to basketball play by play on the radio. Whoever subbed for Dave and Hank (may have been SD feed) was pretty good. Speaking of that, the lady's play by play announcer is really good too. Smart was on fire! This team will get better! Also, this is the first team/coach I've seen actually playing defense, not just giving lip service to it, in a long time.

Beating USD on the road should give us a pretty nice RPI bump. They had an RPI of 60 entering the game and ours was in the 260 range. The score prediction based on RPI had us losing by 30. That was a very nice road win.